I'll forego comment on the dysfunction
of DND AND US DoD contracting... :wry:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marct
...While the initiative is laudable, I am a touch concerned that it may assume a one-size-fits-all bio-psycho-social model. I don't know if that is the case, but I am concerned that it might be and, if it is, then it is a waste of money IMHO.
and agree that if your concern is realized, it will be not only a waste of money but will add that it might also do more harm than good...
I do believe the principle, as stated, is sound and can provide a combination of more effective forces and considerably fewer psychological injuries to those forces if committed.
Here's hoping they do it right. Then we can study the results, state we do not need to do that; that is is inapplicable to the much larger US force; or that we cannot afford it -- until it becomes the idea of a US senior leader and then we'll do it. Regrettably, we'll initially screw it up as you fear but eventually, we'll perhaps, hopefully get it right... :D
First Overview of Research
Haven't had a chance to look this over yet, but given the interest, here's what appears to be the first crack at reviewing the literature, and setting up goals for the next phases of research:
http://pubs.drdc.gc.ca/inbasket/8392...R_2009_075.pdf
(1.26 MB 120 pg PDF)
How are they doing AFTER deploying?
You've seen the "how ready are they to head downrange?" research mentioned above. Now, the CF and its research arm want to see how returning troops are doing after they come home from Afghanistan - this, from MERX:
Quote:
.... The Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Toronto, Ontario has a requirement for the conducting of interviews, in both English and French, on post-deployment reintegration experiences of Canadian Forces (CF) members, transcribe the recorded interview material, translate any French interview transcriptions into English, and write brief one to two page summaries of the major themes emerging from each of the interviews. The work for the first set of interviews, transcriptions, translations and summaries (first post-deployment cycle) is expected to commence in May 2010 while the work for the second and third set of interviews, transcriptions, translations and summaries (second and third post-deployment cycles) will commence approximately October/November 2010 and April/May 2011, respectively …. The funding for this project is limited to: $45,000.00 CAD (all applicable taxes excluded) for the firm requirement, and $45,000.00 CAD (all applicable taxes excluded) for the optional requirement….
An interesting tidbit from the bid document*: the drafter of the docs says, "Past research** suggests it can take several months for military personnel to readjust after returning from deployment, with four months being mentioned as the typical readjustment period following a fairly stable deployment such as Bosnia," adding this latest research aims to compare the post-Afghanistan experience to that.
If you’re interested in other research along these lines, check out the DRDC’s Centre for Operational Research and Analysis’s Technical Memorandum “Effects of Personnel Tempo on Military Members, their Families, and the Organization: An Annotated Bibliography” published in November 2008 here (PDF).
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* - Full bid document available by e-mailing me. The Statement of Work from the bid documents is available here.
** - Thompson, M.M. & Gignac, M.A.M. (2002). The experience of Canadian Forces augmentees. In P. Essens, A. Vogelaar, E. Tanercan, & D. Winslow, Eds.), The Human in Command: Peace Support Operations (pp. 235-263). Amsterdam: Mets & Schilt/KMA.[/size]